Signaling means for oil filter



5: .1.0.000 i -Ol March 31, 1959 H. s. FRAKx-:s

SIGNALING MEANS FOR OIL FILTER United States Patent O SIGNALING MEANSFOR OIL FILTER Hershal S. Frakes, Kansas City, Kans., assigner ofonethrd to James F. Tapp and one-third to Ernest A. Tapp, both ofJackson County, Mo.

Application December 1, 1952, Serial No. 323,405

2 Claims. (Cl. 210-90) This invention relates to improvements inaccessory parts for internal combustion engines and relates moreparticularly to oil filtering means that is commonly employed inconnection with such prime movers, the primary object being to providean improved signaling assembly for indicating plugging of the filteringmaterial and therefore the necessity of changing the filter cartridge.

It is common knowledge that lubricating oil filters of the abovementioned type are provided with a filtering element through which theoil is forced under pressure from the oil pump to the bearings. Periodicreplacement of such element is necessary because the same becomesplugged or clogged with foreign matter removed from the oil, and failureto attend to such replacement is likely to cause serious damage to theengine bearings. i In accordance with this invention, therefore, it isan important aim to provide an electric signal, together with switchingmeans that automatically energizes the circuit for the signal wheneverthe oil ceases to flow through the filtering element and by-passes thesame in its flow to the bearings.

Another important object hereof is to provide a signal and switchstructure therefor adapted especially for mounting on and operation inconnection with a filter that has a by-pass in turn provided with apressure responsive valve, the switching structure .hereof beingassociated with the valve for operation thereby.

Other objects include the way in which a reciprocable conductor isspring biased against the pressure-responsive valve forv movementtherewith; the manner of connecting the movable conductor element inseries with the electric circuit for the signal when the valve opens;the way in which the reciprocable conductor element is slidablyl mountedon a stationary conductor also in series with the circuit; and themannerof mounting the stationaryA conductor upon and insulating the samefrom the oil filter container.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a substantially central, cross-sectional view through oneform of oil filter showing the signaling means of the present inventionoperably mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on irregular line Il-II of Fig.l; and

Fig. 3 is a central, cross-sectional view through another type of oilfilter showing a slightly modified form of signaling means embodying thepresent invention.

As will hereinafter appear, the two forms of the invention are nearlyidentical and the same have been shown in connection with two differingtypes of filters to illustrate its universal adaptability.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, a filter broadly designated by thenumeral consists of an outer container 12 that is open at its lowerrnostend and normally mounted on the internal combustion engine, shownfragmentarily in Fig. 1 and designated by the numeral 16, by means of acentral fastening tube 18 passing through the container 12. When somounted on the engine 16, the lowermost end of the container 12 isclosed and placed in communication with a conduit 20 for directing thelubricating oil into the container 12 from the oil pump. The .Filteredoil emanating from the container 12 passes through the tube 18 to theengine bearings.

Filter it) chosen for illustration is a so-called fullllow type offilter in that all of the oil passing from the pump to the bearings isforced through cartridge 22 in the container 12 until filtering material24 within the cartridge 22 becomes so clogged or plugged with foreignmaterial removed from the oil as to obstruct free ow thereof. lt isnoted that the cartridge 22 is perforated throughout and disposed insurrounding relationship to the tube 18. Cartridge 22 is also spacedfrom all of the inner walls ofthe container 12, and the tube 18 isprovided with a. plurality of openings 26 for receiving the filtered oilfrom the cartridge 22, all as indicated by arrows in Fig. l of thedrawing. v

While the oil 1s also pumped into the tube 18 at the uppermost endthereof through openings 26a, such oil normally cannot flow to theengine bearings because of the provision of a normally closed valve 28in the tube 18 below the openings 26a. A spring 30 in the tube 18beneath the valve 28 and resting on stop 32 traversing the tube 18 holdsthe valve 28 yieldably biased -agaiusta. stop sleeve 34 tightly fittedin the tube 18 below openings 26a.

When the cartridge 22 becomes plugged as above mentioned, the pressureof oil on the valve 28 will cause the latter to open against the actionof spring 30 and the oil is therefore by-passed around the element 22 tothe tube 18.

ln accordance with the present invention, there is provided means forindicating, either audibly, visually or otherwise, when such pluggedcondition of the element 22 exists. Such improved signal structure isresponsive in its operation directly to the movement of valve 28 awayfrom the stop 34.

Tube i8 is conventionally provided with a tight fitting plug 36 closingthe uppermost end thereof and bearing tightly against a gasket 38 thatseals the neck of container 12 when the tube 18 is drawn tight in theengine block 15. Plug 36 may, therefore, be tapped to threadedly receivea tube 4t) for mounting an elongated, rod-like conductor 42. insulatingwashers 44 and 46 separate the conductor 42 from the tube 40 and serveto rigidly mount the conductor pin 42 in the tube 40.

A short, tubular conductor 48 is slidably mounted on the conductor 42within the sleeve 34 and is held yieldably biased against the valve 28of insulating material'by a spring S6 coiled about the pin 42. Thevertically reciprocable conductor 4S is provided with a lateral ear 51that is normally spaced above the metallic sleeve 34 when valve 2S isclosed, as shown in Fig. l, but which is adapted to engage the sleeve 34upon downward movement of the valve 28 away from the sleeve 34 to anopen position against the action of spring 30. It is understood thatwhen the valve 28 moves to the open position, the conductor 48 acts as afollower under the influence of the spring 50.

The electrical signal may consist of any suitable device, and thereforea lamp 52 has been chosen for illustration and shown in series with theautomobile battery 54 and with the pin 42, the latter being providedwith clamping nuts 56 for wire 58. When the movable conductor 48 of theswitching device is in engagement with the sleeve 34, the circuitthrough signal 52 is closed from battery 54 through the signal 52, wire58, conductors 42 and 48, sleeve 34, metallic tube 18, and metallic plug36 to ground.

The full-how filter of Fig. 3 is designated by the numeral and differsslightly from filter 10 in that it is mounted by means of a bracket 102,and oil inlet 3 120 isf at the side of container'V 112, tube 118providing the oil outlet in the same manner as in filter 10. AV metallicball valve 128 is employed instead of the disc type valve 28 ofinsulating material, valve 128 being biased to the closed position byspring 130 in the'tube 118.-

Openings 126 normally receive the oil from cartridge 122, but when thelatter becomes clogged, the oil is by-passed into tube 118 throughopenings 126a. and thence past valve 128. Conductor pin 142 is mountedprecisely as above described relative to conductor pin 42,` andreciprocable conductor 148,. slidable on the pin 142, is biased againstthe valve 128 by a spring 150 coiled about the pin142. Reciprocableconductor 148 is provided with a lateral ear 151 that extends into oneof the openings 126:1 formed in stop or seat 134 for valve 128.Inasmuch` as valve 128 is metallic, it is necessary to provideinsulation 135 on the lowermost end of the pin 142 to separate thelatter from the valve 128, and this element 135 cornprises the onlyessential difference between the assembly of Fig. 1 and that of Fig. 3.

Here again, when valve 128 opens, the reciprocable conductor 148 willfollow therewith by energy of spring 150 until the lateral ear 151engages the stop 134 to establish a closed circuit through signalingmeans 152.

It is now apparent that a positive indication of inoperability of thefiltering cartridge has been provided; that the same is universallyadaptable for many types of filters; and that it can be applied toexisting filters of the type herein set forthwith only a slightmodification of the component parts thereof. As long as the by-passvalves remain closed and the oil is being pumped through the filteringmaterial of thev cartridges, the circuit through the signaling meanswillAremain open. The moment,I however, that .the oilis by-pas'sed aroundthe filtering cartridge by virtue of its becoming plugged and thebypassv valves open in response to the oil pressure, the switching meanswill operate to close the electric circuit for the signal andimmediately notify the user of the engine thatrthe cartridge should bereplaced. Y Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as newand desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. 'In a signaling device adapted for insertion in a standard full flowoil filter having a container provided with a top, said container havingan oil inlet and an oil outlet, filtering material in the containerthrough which saidl oil is forced under pressure, an oil by-pass lineconnecting said inlet with said outlet, a valve Seat in said by-pass,and a pressure-responsive valve in said seat, said valve normally beingin engagement with the seat and shift'able in the direction of liow ofthe oil when the material becomes obstructed so as to force the oilthrough said by-pass, the Vimprovement which comprises an electricalswitch having a stationary contact mounted in the top and extending intothe container, remote from said valve, there being provided electricalinsulating material between the top and said contact, a movable clementon said contact, said element being electrically conductivev andnormally in engagement with said valve, means insulating said movableelement from said valve, resilient means between the top and saidelement for holding the latter biased toward the valve, and a metallicstop within the path of travel of the movable element for limiting theextent of movement of said element as the valve shifts to an openposition and said resilient means. moves the element against the stop.

2. In a signaling device adapted for insertion in a standard full ow ofoil filter having a container provided with a top, said containerhavingy an oil inlet and an oil outlet, filtering material in thecontainer through which said oil is forced under pressure, an oilby-pass line connecting said inlet with said outlet, a valve seat insaid by-pass, and a pressure-responsive valve in said seat, said valvenormally being in engagement with the seat and shiftable in thedirection of flow ofv the oil when the material becomes obstructed so asto force the oil through said bypass, an electrical signal, and anelectric-circuit for said signal, the improvement which comprises aswitch for closing the circuit to energize theV signal when the valve isopened by oil flowing through said by-pass, said switch including astationary conductor rod adapted for connection in series with thecircuit, said rod being mounted on the top and extending into thecontainer remote from said valve, there being provided electricalinsulating material between the top and said stationary conductor, amovable conductor' slidingly mounted on the ro'd and in electricalcontact therewith, said movable conductor being normally in engagementwith said value, means insulating .said movable conductor from saidvalve, a spring on the rod and bearing against thev conductor forholding the latter biased toward the valve, and a metallic stop Withinthe path of travel of the movable conductor for limiting the extent ofmovement of said movable conductor as the valve shifts to the openposition and said spring moves the movable conductor against the stop,said stop being adapted for connection in series with said circuit forclosing the later to energize the signal when the movable conductor isagainst the stop.

ReferencesCited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,411,802 Mosher Apr. 4, 1922 2,348,651 Schelly May 9, 1944 2,638,581Marvel May 12, 1953 2,685,371 Gretzinger Aug. 3, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS806,635 `France Sept. 28, 1936 450,104 Great Britain July 10, 1936

